New health initiative under way in WNC

Hospitals and health departments across Western North Carolina have partnered to develop WNC Healthy Impact, a regional initiative designed to improve community health across a 16-county area.

The partnership is currently gathering information to understand each county’s community health status. This information will help determine high priority health issues through the community health assessment process.

In addition to pulling together existing health-related data, WNC Healthy Impact is conducting a community health survey, by phone in a random sample, in all 16 counties. This survey started toward the end of May and will continue through July. Updated health assessment findings will be available for communities by the end of the year.

After the information is collected, hospitals and health departments will work together with communities to create plans.